Students and classes changed as Jefferson County schools resume after tornadoes

On their first day back at school after the April 27, 2011 tornado, children at Jefferson County's Concord Elementary School wrote messages in honor of classmates who were killed by the storm. (The Birmingham News/Michelle Campbell)

CONCORD, Alabama -- David Foster kind of knew what to expect when children came back to school Tuesday.

As principal of Jefferson County's Concord Elemen­tary School, he had lost one of his students to a tornado in 1998, and many others had lost their homes.

This time, two of his stu­dents -- a sister and brother -- were killed, and dozens of others are with­out homes.

"I met with faculty, and we discussed how to deal with the kids and what kinds of reactions they might have," Foster said. "We have 15 children whose houses were com­pletely destroyed, and oth­ers are just scared to death."

Third-grader Haley Alexis Kreider, 8, and her brother, fourth-grader Michael Da­vid Kreider, 10, died in last week's tornado along with their mother, Michelle Pearson Kreider, 30.

Tuesday was no ordinary day. Extra counselors were at schools in the hardest-hit areas of Jefferson County, talking to students who needed them. The district also is allowing any child displaced by the tornado to be enrolled immediately in any Jefferson County school.

Any students who are in need are being offered free meals, and the district is also giving them school supplies and clothes.

Birmingham city schools went back to school Monday, except for South Hampton Elementary School in Pratt City, also ravaged by last week's tornado, which went back Tuesday.

At Concord, guidance counselor Renae Roszell said the children discussed "heart-wrenching things."

"They relived memories of Mikey and Alexis," she said.

Katie Freeman, a fourth-grader at the school, said her friendship with Michael was special.

"We were in third grade together last year, and my mom was in the hospital, and he would ask me every day about her," she said. "He was really sweet."

Fourth-grader Cassie Hicks lost her home Wednesday, but was thankful to come back to school and see her friends.

"My house is gone. There's lots of wood, and it's just in a pile," she said.

Children in the younger grades at Concord spent the morning painting pictures of their experience.

Older children were able to share their experiences with classmates and teachers.

"It was horrifying," Gavin Bearden, 10, said. Bearden was in the bathtub when the storm hit and his house was destroyed.

"I went outside, and it looked like it was something on TV," he said. "It wasn't even realistic."

At Pleasant Grove High School, Principal Wayne Byram told teachers not to teach Tuesday. Instead, it was a day for friends to talk and students to share their experiences.

"The mood here is somber, but kids, for the most part, are upbeat," he said.